A scheduling software project for Qutenza Astellas Pharma
April through July 2014
Technologies used:
As one of the project’s demands was that the application should be accessible on any type of hardware, Scotler opted for a web-based intranet application. The application was therefore developed using Microsoft .NET technology, following the Model-View-Controller architectural pattern.
Major challenges
Working in conjunction with Astellas, some day hospitals provide their patients with Qutenza pain relief patches. The patches can be cut into a maximum of four pieces and should be applied within two hours of opening. This poses a problem: how to make the best and most cost-effective use of every patch that is opened? As things stand, the hospitals that are using Qutenza patches do not have any software to tell them whether or not there is an open patch. To meet this need and find a solution, Astellas therefore approached Scotler.
Project management
Solution implemented
As there was no solution of this type already in existence, Scotler worked on this project from start to finish. Following a number of face-to-face and telephone meetings arranged to focus on Astellas Pharma’s requirements in as much detail as possible, a detailed analysis was undertaken. Clear requirements were identified: algorithm-based software that could generate appointments on the basis of the length of an appointment, the number of patches available, the facility’s opening hours, etc.
Scotler and Astellas: a collaborative effort
Collaboration was excellent throughout: before, during and after implementation of the application. Once the critical factors had been scoped out, the application was developed in iterative fashion: on completion of a project phase, it was submitted to Astellas, to ensure that everything was heading in the right direction. Regular email exchanges between Scotler and Astellas Pharma and the meetings that were held were of significant benefit in this. Visits to Astellas Pharma were also undertaken for the production roll-out, as well as to provide training for the medical sales representatives. Scotler was also involved with testing and project implementation.
“Astellas Pharma, Inc. is a Japanese company created in 2005 out of the merger of Yamanouchi and Fujisawa. The Group is one of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical laboratories and employs 15,000 people worldwide. As a forward-looking company, Astellas’ mission is to develop pharmaceutical products and make them available to treat and improve the health of every individual, throughout the world. ” (Source: Astellas website) [website in French]